Oak Grove | A Sagittarian Seeker

November 23, 2023, Grapevine- The plates were full, the food well-crafted and the three of us, enjoyed every part of this meal-on what, at least to me, is the auspicious 23rd day of the 11th month, in the 23rd year of the 21st Century, AD/CE. Where there is love, there is good food and an attitude of gratitude.

My gratitudes, this year, are many: The program at True North Nutrition, which started me on the systematic loss of forty-seven pounds, between February and November; the growth in my circle of friends-in Prescott, across the continent and in the Philippines, where I connected with a sponsored youth and his mother, chatted up a beleaguered farmer, about whose cause I will be updating quite often, in the months ahead and the Baha’is of the Manila Metro area, three of whom in particular made my stay memorable, through their constant accompaniment; the continued good health of my immediate and extended family; my opportunities for service in the Prescott area-and through the Red Cross, in Watsonville, CA, in the aftermath of a disastrous flood situation, last Spring; the children who let me help them, in their long-term striving to grow and develop their strengths.

As always happens, after the meal, we took to a short, but brisk, trail. Oak Grove Park lies across Grapevine Lake from Rockledge, which we visited last year. There are probably 5-6 miles of short trails, but the three of us stuck to the paved lengths this time. Here are a few scenes of the area.

West end of Grapevine Lake, at Oak Grove Park

This is another of my gratitudes, for the variety of nature that is ever accessible to share. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

July 18, 2015, Chula Vista- It was wet, very wet, across southern California, this morning. I very happily made my way, slowly, from Oak Grove to Santa Ysabel, and then to this sprawling and resilient city of 217,000, at the gateway to Baja California. I chose to wait out the worst of the thunder and lightning at the campground, before heading west and south.

Breakfast was a bit late, 10 A.M., at Apple Country- my go-to place in this little mission town, northwest of Julian. The rain lulled just long enough for me to get a pie, at nearby Julian Pie Company, to take to Aram. Once I was back on the road, so was the rain. We traveled together to Chula Vista, and the steady soaking downpour made normally frenetic SoCal drivers take heed. There were “only” two accidents, along my route, but they were sufficient to slow everyone down even further, though it was nothing like the tie-up south of Reno, on June 28. Of course, there were the usual anomalies- a wrong way driver shooting out of an entry ramp, at I-15 south, in Escondido and a propane truck doing 70, on the inside lane of said thoroughfare, while the rest of us were content with 50, in the increasing downpour.

This is a most blessed sight, this wet pavement.

Son and I made a trip to Costco and picked up a table and chairs for his new apartment, then took in “Ant Man”, a surprisingly interesting film that centers on quantum physics- and touches on how feelings of jealousy and unrequited filial piety can lead to villainous madness. Ants, as many of us have come to realize, are powerful and fascinating beings- as long as they don’t infest one’s home, or other surroundings!

We had our customary lengthy conversation, afterward, with Aram putting together a fine meal, in his first real kitchen. Good times don’t have to be dramatic, in southern California.